Purification of calcitonin by partition chromatography

ABSTRACT

The purification of crude calcitonin by subjecting a crude calcitonin material to partition chromatography in which the solvent utilized is a mixture of butanol, a lower alphatic alcohol which is ethanol, methanol, or propanol, or mixtures thereof, acetic acid, water and ammonium acetate. The crude calcitonin of this invention is of a type known as ultimobronchial calcitonin. This includes calcitonins of the salmon and eel, whether the calcitonins of this type be obtained from natural sources or are prepared by synthesis. Preferably, the crude calcitonins of this type, which are purified by the process herein set forth, are obtained by solid phase synthesis in which the amino acid chain is assembled by attaching a resin support to the first amino acid, adding the amino acids one-by-one in the order in which they appear in the natural calcitonin; and finally removing the resin and the protective groups used in the synthesis.

This application is a continuation-in-part of our application Ser. No. 094,323 filed Nov. 14, 1979, now abandoned.

This invention relates to processes and procedures useful in purifying peptides having biological activities similar to that of the natural ultimobronchial calcitonin; and more particularly, to processes which utilize partition chromatography for separating the active calcitonin substance from other substances which do not have such activity and so may be regarded as impurities.

BACKGROUND

It has been known for some time that some of the hormone peptides can be derived from the glands of land and aquatic animals and that such hormones can be used to treat hormonal deficiencies in man and animals. The adrenocorticotropic hormone is effective in treating deficiencies of this hormone, and calcitonin is effective in the treatment of Paget's Disease of the bone (see Seminars in Drug Treatment, Volume 2, Number 1, 1972).

More recently, methods for the synthesis of substances containing hormonal activity have been discovered. For example, see Colescott et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,915,949 disclosing the synthesis of adrenocorticotropic hormone and U.S. Pat. No. 3,926,938 relating to the synthesis of calcitonin.

In order to utilize the crude materials which come from the synthesis of peptide hormones in the treatment of humans, it is necessary to purify the materials which come as a result of the synthesis. The classical methods heretofore used for this purification are tedious and time consuming, and usually result in low yields of the hormones. These classical methods are adaptable only to very small quantities of the materials. Examples of the methods heretofore used are found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,915,949 in Column 18 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,926,938 in Column 20.

We have sought new and improved methods for conducting the necessary purification of crude peptide hormone materials. We are aware that partition chromatography has been suggested for purifying certain hormone peptides (see Journal of Chromatography, pages 423-428; Elsevier Publishing Company, Amsterdam, Holland; CHROM. 5708).

In general, the procedure involved in carrying out partition chromatography is well known. This procedure includes packing a column, suitably using a fine dextran resin such as is sold under the trademark SEPHADEX. The resin may be prepared for use in the column by adding 4.5 kg. of the resin to 35 liters of 0.2 M acetic acid in a container and bringing the volume up to 40 liters to make an 8.5:1 ratio of solvent to resin. Some of the supernatant may be removed, resulting in about 5 liters of supernatant and 23 litersof suspended resin.

To prepare the column, the prepared resin may be poured into the column as a thick slurry. The volume of the resin at this stage (in liters) may be about five times its weight (in kilograms). The resin may be allowed to settle under a flow of 0.2 M acetic acid until it reaches a constant height.

The procedure of partition chromatography involves three essential steps in the following sequence:

(1) The equilibration of the column to lower phase,

(2) The equilibration of the column to upper phase, and

(3) The separation of the mixture into its components based on the individual differential partition coefficients of the components between the two phases of an immissible mixture of solvents.

The term "partition chromatography" when used herein, is taken to mean a purification procedure involving these three steps.

In an attempt to purify crude adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) we obtained a quantity of this crude hormone prepared in accordance with the Colescott et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,915,949 and subjected the crude hormone to a purification procedure by partition chromatography. This attempt and the results obtained are reported in the following paragraph:

A solution of 200 mg. of the crude ACTH prepared in accordance with the process of U.S. Pat. No. 3,915,949, in 20 ml. of upper phase from the system 1,200 ml. of n-butanol, 300 ml. of ethanol and 1,500 ml. of 0.2 M ammonium acetate containing 0.6 ml. of acetic acid, was placed on a dextran resin column, previously equilibrated with lower and then to upper phases of the solvent system, and was then eluted with upper phase. The effluent was collected in tubes on a fraction collector. A Folin-Lowry analysis showed that only very small traces of peptide had been eluted. This indicated to use that this partition system does not effectively move the ACTH down the column in the partition chromatography procedure. No improvement in the purity of the crude ACTH could be detected by thin layer chromatography.

We have also tried to purify crude human calcitonin using partition chromatography with substantially the same solvents and procedures as we have described in our attempts to purify ACTH. A description of these attempts is reported as follows:

A Folin-Lowry analysis of the collected fractions demonstrated that no separation of impurities from the desired hormone human calcitonin was achieved. The impurities and the human calcitonin co-eluted, and no separation was observed.

From the above, it is apparent that our attempts to purify crude human calcitonin using this partition chromatography solvent system did not produce a satisfactory purification process.

DESCRIPTION OF THE GENERAL TYPES OF CALCITONINS

Calcitonins are of two general types. One general type, which is obtained from the more primitive species including salmon or eel, is called ultimobronchial calcitonins. A second type, which is obtained from mammalian species in which the thyroid functions have been developed, is called thyrocalcitonins. Included in this second type of calcitonin are the calcitonins of the pig, cow, sheep, rat, human, and other species of mammalian animal origin.

Phyllogenetic studies have established that the ultimobranchia gland, found as a distinct organ in submammalian species (from eel and salmon), is the evolutionary progenitor of the thyroid in mammals (man, pig, cow, rat, and sheep). See Parathyroid Hormone and Thyrocalcitonin proceedings of the Third Parathyroid Conference (R. V. Talmage, L. F. Belanger, and I. Clark, eds.), Excerpta Medica Foundation, New York, pages 43, 68-73.

The following Table I lists molecular structures for typical ultimobronchial calcitonins, and Table II lists molecular structures for some species of the thyrocalcitonins.

                  TABLE I                                                          ______________________________________                                         Eel       Salmon I Salmon II     Salmon III                                    ______________________________________                                         Cys                                                                            Ser                                                                            Asn                                                                            Leu                                                                            Ser                                                                            Thr                                                                            Cys                                                                            Val                              Met                                           Leu                                                                            Gly                                                                            Lys                                                                            Leu                                                                            Ser                                                                            Gln                                                                            Glu                Asp           Asp                                           Leu                                                                            His                                                                            Lys                                                                            Leu                                                                            Gln                                                                            Thr                                                                            Tyr                Phe           Phe                                           Pro                                                                            Arg                                                                            Thr                                                                            Asp       Asn      Asn           Asn                                           Val       Thr      Thr           Thr                                           Gly                                                                            Ala       Ser                                                                  Gly                                                                            Thr                Val           Val                                           Pro                                                                            NH.sub.2                                                                       ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE II                                                         ______________________________________                                         Human       Bovine  Porcine        Ovine                                       ______________________________________                                         Cys                                                                            Gly                                                                            Asn                                                                            Leu                                                                            Ser                                                                            Thr                                                                            Cys                                                                            Met                                                                            Leu                                                                            Gly         Ser     Ser            Ser                                         Thr         Ala     Ala            Ala                                         Tyr         Tyr     Tyr            Tyr                                         Thr         Trp     Trp            Trp                                         Gln         Lys     Arg            Lys                                         Asp         Asp     Asn            Asp                                         Phe                                                                            Asn         Asn     Asn            Asn                                         Lys         Asn     Asn            Asn                                         Phe         Tyr     Phe            Tyr                                         His         His     His            His                                         Thr         Arg     Arg            Arg                                         Phe         Phe     Phe            Tyr                                         Pro         Ser     Ser            Ser                                         Gln         Gly     Gly            Gly                                         Thr         Met     Met            Met                                         Ala         Gly     Gly            Gly                                         lle         Phe     Phe            Phe                                         Gly                                                                            Val         Pro     Pro            Pro                                         Gly         Glu     Glu            Glu                                         Ala                                                                            Pro                                                                            NH.sub.2                                                                       ______________________________________                                    

Close examination of the amino acid sequences given in the above Tables I and II shows a distinct difference in amino acid composition between the ultimobranchial and the thyrocalcitonins (mammalian calcitonins). See M. Merle, G. Lefevre and G. Milhaud, Biochem. Biophy, Res. Comm., 87, (2) 455-460 (1979).

SUMMARY

Notwithstanding our failure to successfully purify crude ACTH or crude human calcitonin by applying the partition chromatography procedure using a selected solvent system, we have now discovered that we can apply partition chromatography using this same solvent system to crude salmon calcitonin or another ultimobranchial calcitonin to effectively purify these calcitonins.

When, in describing and claiming our invention, we make reference to particular types and kinds of calcitonins, such as human, pig, bovine, salmon, or eel calcitonin, it is understood that we mean to include the calcitonins of the same or similar structure whether obtained from natural or synthetic sources.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The selection of the crude hormone material to be purified and the preparation of the solvent mixture to be used in partition chromatography are critical factors in our invention.

The crude ultimobranchial calcitonin to be purified should preferably be obtained by solid phase synthesis such as is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,915,949, using a resin as a support and in which the amino acids are assembled one-by-one with the resin support and protecting groups removed after the assemblage of the amino acid chain; this process of synthesis being known as the solid phase synthesis.

We may utilize equipment such as has heretofore been used in conducting partition chromatography except that we prefer to use a larger column than heretofore used in order to handle the larger volumes of crude material to be purified. A column 15 cm. in diameter and 120 cm. in height has proved quite satisfactory.

The solvent mixture contains four ingredients which are designated (1) butanol, (2) a lower alphatic alcohol which may be ethanol, methanol or propanol, or mixtures thereof, (3) acetic acid, and (4) 0.2 M ammonium acetate. The butanol may be contained in an amount of 30 to 50%, preferably about 40%, the lower alphatic alcohol in an amount of 5 to 15%, preferably about 10%, the acetic acid in an amount of from 0.01 to 0.03%, and the 0.2 M ammonium acetate in an amount of from 40 to 60%, preferably about 50%, these percentages being by volume based on the volume of the solvent mixture.

To carry out our improved process, the apparatus may use a column as above referred to, together with a feed reservoir and a fraction collector, these items of equipment being known to this art.

The column is packed, suitably with a fine dextran resin such as Sephadex. After being treated with acetic acid, the Sephadex is introduced into the column in the form of a slurry. The solvent reservoir is supported at a height above the level of the column. The solvent mixture is stirred vigorously and allowed to stand for a time during which the two phases separate into an upper phase and a lower phase, these phases being separately collected.

The first essential step in the partition chromatography process is the equilibration of the column to lower phase. The lower phase of the solvent system is added to the reservoir and caused to flow through the column from top to bottom to equilibrate the system to the lower phase.

The column is then equilibrated to upper phase in the same manner by causing the upper phase of the solvent mixture to be passed through the column. Excess upper phase is then removed.

A quantity of crude ultimobranchial calcitonin to be purified is suitably dissolved in upper phase solvent which is placed over the bed of resin, and the solution allowed to penetrate completely into the resin.

Elution is begun by passing the upper phase solvent, by gravity, through the column. Suitably, the fraction collector is set up with large collector tubes; for example, tubes of about 25×200 cm., and fractions of about 50-70 ml. are collected. The flow rate may be expected to decrease as the elution proceeds; and if the collection is by time per tube, an increasing amount of time per fraction may be allowed. The calcitonin peak of interest may be expected to be eluted within the first 10 liters, while all components require approximately 22 liters for their elution. A large number of tubes (200 or more) may be filled.

The location of the desired peptide among the different fractions may be by use of the Folin-Lowry method of peptide determination. This test is well known in the art. Suitably, about 40 microliters may be taken from every second of third fraction and treated with the Folin-Lowry reagents. The absorption of each tube may be read at 625 nm. and recorded. The results may then be plotted as tube number vs. absorption, and a selection of the tubes to be pooled may be made on the basis of the resulting pattern.

To isolate each fraction, it is necessary to remove the alcohol. This may be done by azeotropic distillation. The resulting clear aqueous solution is ready for freezing and lyophilization.

The following specific examples demonstrate the use of our improved process:

EXAMPLE 1

A mixture consisting of 28 L of n-butanol, 7 L of ethanol and 35 L of 0.2 M ammonium acetate solution containing 14 ml. of glacial acetic acid was prepared in a 200 L container. The mixture was well stirred several times, then allowed to separate into two phases. The pH of the lower phase was 6.70.

The lower phase of about 30 L was separated from the upper phase, then the entire amount was passed through a large partition chromatography column (15×120 cm.) which had been stored in 0.2 M acetic acid. The reservoir was then filled with upper phase solvent and this was added to the column while draining from the bottom of the column until the phase boundary between upper and lower phases had just entered the column. At this point the effluent was collected in a graduated cylinder.

After 6,700 ml. of upper phase solvent had passed through the column, its exit from the bottom of the column was noted by its separation on top of the previously eluted lower phase. The stopcock at the bottom of the column was closed and the top of the column was opened. The column was then drained until the liquid remaining on top of the bed just entered the bed. The crude salmon calcitonin to be purified had been made by solid phase synthesis in accordance with the process set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 3,926,938. A solution of 15 gm. of this crude salmon calcitonin in 500 ml. of upper phase solvent was then carefully layered on top of the bed. It was allowed to run through the column into a graduated tube container until it was all on the bed, then washed onto the column with 200 ml. portions of upper phase solvent. After these had passed onto the column, 1,500 ml. of upper phase solvent was added to the top of the bed, the cover replaced and the upper phase in the reservoir allowed to pass through the column bed. After 4,500 ml. of effluent was collected, the exit line was transferred to a fraction collector and fractions were collected containing 70 ml. per tube. The flow rate was about 9 ml. per minute. 250 tubes were collected. Based on the results of the Folin-Lowry analysis, tubes 73 through 105 were combined to give 2,300 ml. of liquid.

This mixture was diluted with 3 L of filtered water and then concentrated on a rotary evaporator until 1,200 ml. of solution remained. This remaining liquid was shell frozen and lyophilized to yield 6.96 gm. of a white powder.

An identical run using 12 gm. of crude salmon calcitonin gave 5.75 gm. of product. The products from these two runs were combined to provide 12.71 gms. of material which was then dissolved in 225 ml. of 0.3 M acetic acid. The solution was added to a fine dextran resin bed in a column 10 cm.×100 cm. which had previously been equilibrated with 0.03 M acetic acid. The column was then eluted with the same solution. The effluent was monitored through a UV spectrophotometer at 280 nm. That portion of the curve corresponding to salmon calcitonin was collected (1,000 ml.) and lyophilized to yield 10.6 gm. of product.

Thin layer chromatography on a cellulose F plate in the system n-butanol-pyridine-acetic acid-water (21:12:2:15) revealed one spot with an R_(f) of 0.46. Further testing indicated the product was of high purity.

The partition column may be regenerated by elution with 30 L of 20% acetic acid followed by elution with 30 L of 0.2 M acetic acid.

EXAMPLE 2

A resin bed was prepared as in Example 1, but in a column of size 2.5 cm×85 cm. The column was eluted with 1 L of lower phase from the system 1,200 ml. of n-butanol, 300 ml. of ethanol, and 1,200 ml. of a 0.25 M ammonium acetate containing 0.6 ml. of acetic acid. 142 ml. of upper phase was eluted from the column before the presence of upper phase in the effluent was noted. A sample of 295 mg. of crude salmon calcitonin in 15 ml. of upper phase was placed on the column and eluted with upper phase solvent. The effluent was collected in a manner similar to Example 1 with the aid of a fraction collector. The Folin-Lowry analysis indicated that tubes 28 to 36 (7 ml. per tube) contained the desired product. The contents of the tubes were combined, diluted with filtered water and concentrated on a rotary evaporator, followed by lyophilization. The product was then desalted on a dextran resin column as in Example 1 to yield 126 mg. of purified salmon calcitonin. The thin layer chromatograph and elution characteristics were identical to the product obtained by Example 1.

EXAMPLE 3

The procedure as set forth in Example 1 may be repeated using the same solvent mixture but substituting crude eel calcitonin for the salmon calcitonin of Example 1. A purified eel calcitonin product may be expected to be obtained having biological activity which is at least as great as the salmon calcitonin obtained in Example 1.

While in the foregoing detailed explanation we have described certain ways in which the improved process may be carried out, it is understood that many changes may be made and many modifications may be practiced, all within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims. 

We claim:
 1. In a process for purifying crude ultimobranchial calcitonin the step of subjecting said crude ultimobranchial calcitonin to partition chromatography using a solvent mixture containing butanol in an amount of 30-50%, a lower alphatic alcohol which is ethanol, methanol, or propanol, or mixtures thereof, in an amount of 5-15%, acetic acid in an amount of 0.01 to 0.03%, and 0.2 M ammonium acetate in an amount of from 40-60%, these percentages being by volume based on the volume of the solvent mixture.
 2. A process as set forth in claim 1 in which said crude ultimobranchial calcitonin is crude salmon calcitonin.
 3. A process as set forth in claim 1 in which said crude ultimobranchial calcitonin is crude eel calcitonin.
 4. A process as set forth in claim 1 in which said crude ultimobranchial calcitonin is prepared by solid phase synthesis.
 5. A process as set forth in claim 1 in which said lower alphatic alcohol is ethanol.
 6. A process as set forth in claim 1 in which said butanol is contained in said solvent mixture in an amount of about 40% based on the volume of the butanol and the volume of the solvent mixture.
 7. A process as set forth in claim 1 in which said butanol is in the amount of about 40%, said lower alphatic alcohol is in the amount of about 10%, and said 0.2 M ammonium acetate is in the amount of about 50%, said percentages being by volume based on the volume of the solvent mixture. 